Cruz stays silent as colleague Cornyn talks re-election

Stewart M. Powel, Houston Chronicle

By Stewart M. Powell

Updated 10:37 pm, Thursday, November 14, 2013

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2013 file photo, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Cornyn says the Defense Department is canceling plans to buy additional cargo helicopters from the Russian arms export agency that is a top supplier of weapons to Syria's military forces. The additional 15 Mi-17s were to be purchased next year at a cost of $345 million and then delivered to Afghanistan's national security forces. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, STF

WASHINGTON - When Texas Sen. John Cornyn launches his campaign for a third six-year term on Friday with a rally in Austin, it will feature a cameo appearance by Gov. Rick Perry - but no sign of tea party-backed freshman Sen. Ted Cruz.

Cornyn and Cruz have had a strained relationship for months. Cornyn stayed publicly neutral in last year's high-profile race between Cruz and Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. That neutrality left some Cruz supporters suspicious that Cornyn had privately favored Dew­hurst, a member of the state's Republican establishment.

Cornyn campaign spokesman Drew Brandewie downplayed Cruz's scheduled absence from Cornyn's first official campaign event. The Cornyn aide noted that Cruz's political action committee, Jobs Growth and Freedom Fund, had made an early $2,500 campaign donation to Cornyn's re-election campaign.

But Cruz has remained publicly neutral in Cornyn's upcoming re-election drive.

Cruz "has said for a while now that he will likely not get involved in any incumbent primary elections," Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier confirmed on Thursday.

Cornyn, 61, who has served Texas in public office since 1985, is part of the GOP's Senate leadership in his role as minority whip. He is filing required paperwork to get on the ballot for Texas' March 4 Senate primary before leading the campaign rally.

Cornyn, touting National Journal's assessment that he is the second-most-conservative senator, "is running on a proven conservative record highlighting his commitment to economic prosperity and individual freedom," his campaign said.

Yet despite his reputation as a conservative, courteous and conscientious senator, Cornyn has been somewhat overshadowed in recent months by Cruz, a hard-charging ideologue who arrived on Capitol Hill in January and single-handedly seized the leadership of the GOP drive to repeal, defund or modify President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

Cruz captured the national limelight in September with an overnight, 21-hour address on the Senate floor devoted to rolling back Obama's signature domestic achievement. Cruz's leadership on the issue has paid political dividends for the would-be 2016 GOP presidential candidate amid mounting problems with implementation of the health insurance overhaul.

Cornyn enjoys formidable advantages over any challenger at this point, having raised $10.3 million so far and having $6.9 million in cash on hand.